Tote Is a Bag, a Verb and a Betting System
To tote is to carry. A tote is also a large bag and the pooled betting system.
To tote is to carry, especially something heavy; a tote is a large open bag. A third sense comes from a different word entirely: the *tote* in horse racing is short for *totalisator*, the machine that pools all bets on a race and divides the pot among winners after deducting a cut, so the odds depend on how others bet rather than on a bookmaker. The verb is American English from the 1670s, possibly from an African language of the enslaved population.
- To carry. *Toting a bag.*
- A large bag. *A canvas tote.*
- Pooled betting. *The tote.*
- Totalisator — the full word. *A totalisator.*
- American English — the 1670s. *The verb.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | tote | Toting. |
| Noun | tote | A tote. |
| Compound | tote bag | A tote bag. |
| Full form | totalisator | A totalisator. |
| Related | total | A total. |
- She toted the shopping home.Carrying.
- A canvas tote bag.Bag.
- He bet on the tote.Racing.
How the tote differs from a bookmaker
- A bookmaker offers fixed odds agreed at the time of the bet
- The tote pools all money staked on a race
- A percentage is deducted for costs and tax
- The rest is divided among those backing the winner
- Final odds are unknown until betting closes
The verb is American English from the 1670s, of uncertain origin. The betting sense is short for *totalisator*.
What is the tote in horse racing?
The totalisator, a pooled betting system where all stakes are shared among winners after a deduction, rather than fixed odds.
Where does the verb tote come from?
American English from the 1670s. Its origin is uncertain, possibly from an African language.